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mbmcwhirt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
_wmjb_'s review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I should give this book a full five stars for the beautiful writing about very difficult subjects. But I, like others here, struggled with the disjointedness of the story. The official description calls it a "kaleidoscopic portrait of betrayals" and I would say that that is an apt description. I am fine with different narrators and non-linear timelines. But this had both and it was confusing. A mother who can't tell her daughter why she hates her mother back in Cuba, and the daughter who can't tell her mother why she hates her father until the day of his funeral. Both of the secrets shaped their lives in negative ways. Some things were just hinted at so the reader could fill in the blanks, such as the storyline of the man and his wife at the makeup counter where Janette worked. The first person description of immigration was heart breaking. I'll leave it at that or else I'll get into a rant about people who have a cruel lack of empathy for people that they know nothing about.
docfairy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sunset8305's review against another edition
3.0
I just couldn’t get into this book. I was excited at first, immediately drawn into the writing style. But I found the story to contain too many characters and hopped back and forth between too many points in time - it was pretty confusing.
Why’d I pick this read? GMA Book Club
Why’d I pick this read? GMA Book Club
duvsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Wish there was a half star rating.
2 1/2 stars.
Enjoyed it. Some things made me eh. Some things I loved. Some good writing in here.
The moral of the novel: that women are more than we think we are. We are capable of anything and everything.
***Thank you to flatiron for my gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review***
2 1/2 stars.
Enjoyed it. Some things made me eh. Some things I loved. Some good writing in here.
The moral of the novel: that women are more than we think we are. We are capable of anything and everything.
***Thank you to flatiron for my gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review***
06yilde's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tms792's review against another edition
3.0
Listen / read the author's note - it helped me make so much more sense of the style of the novel. At times I was unsure how the story was tying together, but it all came together at the end in a way that I would have never expected and thoroughly enjoyed. Moving voices throughout the novel and appreciated the look into Cuban history.
ashleyvirag's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oraway's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0